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Key witness in SCAD student slaying sentenced to 40 years in prison, to serve 15

The prosecution’s key witness in the 2010 slaying of Savannah College of Arts and Design student Sean Giroir Tuesday was sentenced to 40 years in prison with 15 to serve and the rest on probation.

Daniel Izzo, 19, was sentenced in line with a plea bargain, in large part for his “truthful testimony” against two men convicted on murder and related charges and sentenced to life plus five years in prison in the case.

Izzo, son of Savannah-Chatham police Lt. Michael Izzo, earlier pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and burglary, but sentencing was deferred until after he testified against his two co-defendants.

Chatham County Superior Court Judge John E. Morse Jr. acted in line with the sentence offered by Assistant District Attorney Maria Waters and defense attorney Richard Darden.

As part of his probation, Izzo must comply with a long list of special conditions, including reporting to his probation officer as ordered and avoiding people or places of disreputable or harmful character.

Those special conditions also require Izzo to submit to drug testing, perform 200 hours of community service after his release, have no contact with Levi, Miles Antle or John Silcox, is banned from Barnard and 35th streets where the slaying occurred and was required to testify truthfully at the trials of co-defendants Alex Cowart, 22, and John Andrew Adams, 21.

Antle and Silcox were both present during the home invasion, and both testified at the trial of Cowart and Adams.

Co-defendants Cowart and Adams were convicted Oct. 28 on felony murder and armed robbery charges in the Oct. 28, 2010, slaying of Giroir following a home invasion at his residence, 1912 Barnard St.

Attorneys for both say they will appeal.

Evidence indicated Izzo and Cowart, both armed, burst into the victim’s Barnard Street address to steal marijuana and cash.

As the bandits fled to a waiting silver Honda CR-V, Giroir and a second man, Michael Levi, 22, gave chase. Giroir was shot twice and killed. Levi was shot twice but survived.

Adams drove his two co-defendants to Atlanta where they were arrested early the next day at a Comfort Inn in Sandy Springs.

Izzo’s testimony was key to placing Adams in the car and establishing he was part of the planned robbery and subsequent flight.